Illustration of periwinkle
- periwinkle a
periwinkle
1 of 2noun (1)
per·i·win·kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl 
1
: any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: such as
a(1)
: a European creeper (Vinca minor) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers
called also myrtle
(2)
: a trailing plant (Vinca major) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes
b
: rosy periwinkle
2
: a light purplish blue
called also periwinkle blue
periwinkle
2 of 2noun (2)
: any of various gastropod mollusks: such as
a
: any of a genus (Littorina) of edible littoral marine snails
also : any of various similar or related marine snails
b
: any of several North American freshwater snails
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English perwinke, from Old English perwince, from Vulgar Latin *pervinca, short for Latin vincapervinca
Noun (2)
Middle English *periwinkle, alteration of Old English pīnewincle, from Latin pina, a kind of mussel (from Greek) + Old English -wincle (akin to Danish vincle snail shell)
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
circa 1530, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing periwinkle
Kids Definition
periwinkle 1 of 2
noun
per·i·win·kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl
: an evergreen plant that spreads along the ground and has blue or white flowers
periwinkle
2 of 2noun
: a small snail that lives along rocky seashores
Medical Definition
periwinkle
noun
per·i·win·kle ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl
: any of several trailing or woody evergreen plants of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae)
especially : rosy periwinkle